Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: The Aftermath
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Moonlight poured in through the window. Wesley stood there like a statue, hand pressed to her forehead. It was because all the important plans for the New Year's gathering had gone awry. They should have crushed Ian's mana to its maximum and broken his spirit...
“Lord Wesley.”
“Bareto.”
Wesley turned her head at the sound of her aide's footsteps. After pushing away the oracle's light, she had checked the magic circle and confirmed bloodstains on it. That was likely the cause of the error, but she couldn't examine it closely while the banquet was in full swing. She had no choice but to stay awake until the nobles, exhausted from their revelry, all went home.
“The banquet hall has been cleared. The remaining nobles have moved to other party venues.”
“I see. And Gail?”
“...Second Prince Gail has also left for the party.”
Once the imperial family's gathering ended, Gail had immediately joined the social hall. Unlike First Prince Marib, who directly confronted the nobles, Gail could approach them more naturally. That would become Gail's strength and foundation in turn.
“Any other messages?”
“None, sir.”
“Even after I reported the bloodstains?”
“Yes. That's correct.”
Wesley grimaced and gnawed at her nails. She had expected some reprimand or orders, but there was no response. As her heels clicked sharply with each step, her black hair whipped wildly.
Bang! Thud!
Opening the back door of the banquet hall, the servants cleaning up jumped in surprise and turned around. But upon seeing Wesley's fierce expression, they automatically bowed their heads.
Zing. Ziiing.
Wesley placed her palm on the magic circle where the oracle's light had appeared and released her mana. Sparks flew from the purple aura surrounding her with every blink of her eyes. A servant seeing magic for the first time stood frozen, staring, until the aide blocked their view with his body and nodded toward the door.
“Get back to work.”
“Ah, yes, yes. Sorry.”
Zing!
Wesley's gaze obsessively traced every formula in the magic circle.
“...No matter how I look at it, the position of the bloodstain is too precise.”
It covered only the core control part without touching anything else. The aide watching from the side cautiously added his opinion.
“But isn't Ian a rookie who just came up from the border? He lodged outside the palace, so it was his first time seeing the magic circle when he entered. It's impossible for him to modify something made by you and the Support Division's main forces right on the spot.”
“Then you think this is a coincidence?”
The aide shook his head. It couldn't be called a coincidence. In the end, the modification was perfect, and the result was perfect too.
“We've confirmed someone saw Nakina in contact with Ian.”
“Nakina?”
Wesley's eyes narrowed further. Nakina was a mage under Captain Hail of the Magic Operations Division. Unlike the mostly administrative Magic Support Division, the Magic Operations Division handled fieldwork far from the palace.
“They shouldn't have any connection.”
That might be why—there was constant subtle rivalry between the two divisions. As Magic Department Minister, Wesley was superior to both, but since she treated the Magic Support Division as her limbs, the power balance inevitably tilted.
“...Put someone on that side.”
“Yes, understood.”
What if Nakina had helped Ian to check the Magic Support Division—or even Wesley herself? The misunderstanding from Nakina's pointless favor kept tangling in Wesley's mind.
Swish.
“I'm going to Gail.”
“Minister, that's not a good idea.”
“As soon as the sun rises tomorrow, we have to send Ian an enlistment request. Don't we need to discuss it and plan countermeasures?”
Wesley pushed through the cleaning servants without hesitation and headed off. The south annex, where the detached palace stood, was brightly lit. Laughter from nobles reveling as if there were no tomorrow—dancing, music, and alcohol—filled the air boisterously.
“Oh my, Second Prince Gail. What do you mean by that?”
“Does it sound like a joke?”
“Of course! Everyone here will think it's a jest!”
“Your Highness truly dotes on Lady Melania. Haha.”
Gail kept flashing his public smile, chattering at the center of the nobles. When the aide approached cautiously and whispered, Gail's relaxed eyes searched for Wesley.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“Ah, where are you going? You have to come right back.”
“Bring the wine I saved for the end.”
Click.
On the terrace, the two reached for mana cigarettes almost simultaneously. The hearty expression Gail had worn while laughing and talking at the party vanished, replaced by boredom as he propped his chin and lit hers.
“The magic circle?”
“I just checked it again on my way here. The bloodstain caused it, and someone intentionally modified it. It seems someone helped Ian.”
Gail furrowed his brow. The cool night air cooled his head.
“The chances of that are slim.”
“Why?”
“Because of Marib.”
It would dilute the meaning of Marib pushing Ian so ostentatiously.
“If someone in the Magic Department helped Ian, it would be personal favor or Marib's orders. The former can be brushed off as 'the situation turned bad,' no big issue. But the latter...”
Wesley exhaled smoke with a 'whoosh' and swept her hair back. She understood Gail's point.
“True. If there's a mage aligned with Marib, they'd order to stay away from Ian.”
It could expose a hidden card. Using Ian publicly as a smokescreen while moving other mages behind the scenes would be the stable approach.
If there were other ways, what did it matter if Ian was humiliated by his mana? Keeping Gail and Wesley from suspecting like this was best.
“I think it's the former, or Ian fixed it himself.”
Gail chuckled lightly, puffing on his mana cigarette. He recalled Ian's appearance from the second-floor banquet hall. The more he saw, the more that bold, reckless vibe seemed far from ordinary.
“Ridiculous. How could someone fresh from the border...”
“Even you would find it difficult, right?”
“......”
Honestly, piercing through a magic circle laden with spells from many mages like the oracle's light and fixing it in one go was tough even for Wesley. But she quickly straightened her gaze and shook her head.
“Your Highness. It's me, Wesley.”
“Haha. My mistake.”
She didn't want her value diminished in Gail's eyes. Gail gently stroked the nape of her neck and asked.
“About the oracle's light Ian showed. What level of mana do you judge that to be?”
“...For his young age, it's decent. Better than expected.”
Wesley answered while avoiding Gail's gaze. Like all palace departments—especially the Magic Department and guards, which valued skill above all—they were harsh on newcomers.
“Is that so?”
Gail replied nonchalantly and lowered his hand. Silence stretched, with only faint music from the inner party audible.
‘If Ian fixed the magic circle and his mana itself is excellent, he's even more a card we can't give to Marib.’
Then a woman appeared at the window. Lady Melania, the noblewoman Gail had been laughing with earlier. The only youngest daughter of the famous banking Haiman family, with royal blood from a nation bordering Bariel.
“As the sun rises, send Ian the enlistment request.”
“You said that earlier. He'll say he'll follow the Magic Department Minister's will. But once confirmed and sent, who knows what Marib will say behind the scenes. Include a few departments like the Magic Support Division where we can gauge reactions as options.”
Gail stubbed out his mana cigarette on the railing. He left a light kiss on Wesley's cheek and nodded. Meaning he was heading back to the party.
“Gail.”
Wesley called his name, but he turned with furrowed brows. As if telling her to use the proper title.
“...Second Prince Gail. See you later.”
“Good work.”
Bang!
As the terrace door closed, their shadows vanished completely. Wesley leaned her elbows on the railing and clutched her head. It throbbed to the point of dizziness.
“...Haa.”
“Another one?”
The aide who had been watching offered a new mana cigarette. Wesley just turned her head, putting it in her mouth without a word. As it lit, flames seemed to spark in her black eyes too.
* * *
“Greetings, Viscount Ian Hielo.”
The Magic Department official bowed politely. Ian noticed the thick parchment in his hand.
“The mana confirmation ritual you showed at yesterday's New Year's gathering was truly impressive. Thank you for granting us such a beautiful sight. Thus, with the hope that Viscount Ian Hielo will use your mana for the great Bariel Empire and His Majesty the Emperor, I have brought the Magic Department enlistment request.”
Rustle!
He confidently unfurled the parchment and read the preface in an elegant tone. It mostly covered the department's history. Berik, listening with interest from the side, yawned hugely by the time it ended.
“...As such, the Magic Department is the most honorable department in the current palace. This details the treatment offered to you, Viscount Ian Hielo, and below are the departments selected and recommended by Minister Wesley. Please consider deeply and reply within a short time.”
“I see. Thanks for coming so early in the morning.”
“Not at all. Ah, if it's not rude, may I request a handshake?”
A last chance before joining the Magic Department. Ian shook hands readily at the official's request, and he bowed politely again.
“We look forward to your positive reply. Thank you.”
Tap!
He left with crisp steps, boarding the palace carriage and exiting the street. Unfurling the parchment, Ian gave a slight smile at the unexpected content.
“More courteous than expected.”
“No matter how much they want to check you, you're a rare new recruit for the Magic Department after so long. They have to do this much out of courtesy. And this kind of procedure probably isn't handled by the Magic Support Division.”
First, it detailed Ian's assigned salary and benefits. A whopping 10 gold coins per month. Huge compared to commoners, but starting from the bottom for other Magic Department members.
“Anyway, the recommended departments from Wesley are as follows. Magic Support Division, Magic Operations Division, Magic Research Department...”
No big difference from the structure Ian knew.
‘Yesterday in the second-floor banquet hall, she said she'd give options to Wesley. Gail heard, so Wesley must know too, yet she sends back a finalized list?’
Isn't that odd? Giving choices, only for them to return? The opposite of trying to suppress him first in the mana confirmation ritual.
‘Then, it means they want to see what I choose... But what do they suspect?’
“Ian? What are you thinking?”
“What this means.”
“Ah, right. You wouldn't know. The Magic Support Division is...”
While Romandro explained eagerly, Ian tapped the edge of the parchment thoughtfully. By the time Romandro finished, a smile played on his lips.
A smile meaning he roughly understood.